Daycare Child Sexual Abuse in California Child Care Facilities
Daycare child sexual abuse. Millions of parents in California count on daycare facilities to provide care for their young children. When you drop your child off at daycare, you trust that the provider will properly watch your child and keep them safe from harm. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
Although the majority of the time, your child is safe at daycare, there are some situations that occur from time to time. Child sexual abuse is one of the worst instances of harm that can happen at a daycare facility. If you believe that your child is the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a daycare provider, you have the right to take legal action. Call our California child sex abuse attorney at Beck Law P.C. today.
Signs of Neglect and Abuse
Parents need to be aware of the potential signs of neglect and abuse in children. Since many young children are not yet able to communicate verbally, they are unable to tell their parents about abuse that is occurring. Look for these signs that may signal a situation that requires your attention.
- Physical signs
- Headaches
- Change in personality
- Less communicative
- More withdrawn
- Clingier than usual (may be unwilling to go to a place where the abuse occurred)
- Regressive behaviors
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Explicit drawings
- Aggressive behavior
- Problems with schoolwork
- Difficulty concentrating
Any change in your child’s typical behavior should be a red flag that something might be wrong. There may be physical or psychological signs, although sometimes, you may not see any signs. Children often internalize abuse and might believe that it is normal or that they deserve it.
Investigate Potential Daycare Child Sexual Abuse
As a parent or guardian, if you suspect that your child has suffered abuse or neglect at their daycare facility, you should take steps to resolve the situation. It is your responsibility to be a champion of your child’s rights. The first step you may take is to talk to the daycare facility manager about the problem. It is important to do this in a formal meeting setting rather than simply asking about it in a casual manner. Set a date for a follow-up meeting and take clear notes.
Remove your child from daycare immediately. You can also report the abuse to the local police.
Take photos of the alleged abuse or neglect at the time you notice it. This step can be an essential part of the claim process. Many times, however, the child shows no physical signs of abuse. It is often a good idea to take your child to their pediatrician for a complete physical evaluation. A child psychologist may also be helpful, depending on the age of the child.
Take Legal Action
If you have evidence of sexual abuse at a daycare provider, you can file a lawsuit. Keep in mind that you may file a claim against an individual as well as the company in many cases. The company may be held responsible if it knew about the abuse claims and did not do anything about them. Most importantly, action is needed to ensure that the problem stops and that no other children will suffer harm.
Child sexual abuse is something to deal with as soon as possible. We are here to help. Contact our California child sex abuse lawyer at Beck Law today at (707) 576-7175 to schedule a confidential consultation.
